Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia
The SHIP program offers cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in a group format provided via telemedicine. Our group and others have published studies showing that group CBTI is an effective treatment for insomnia. Group treatment has several advantages over individual treatment, including the opportunity to learn from others’ experiences in treatment and having support from your peers while you are improving your sleep. Additionally, the wait times to be seen in group treatment are often significantly shorter than for individual treatment.
Upcoming CBTI Groups
Our next CBTI group is anticipated to begin January 18, 2024, meeting on Thursdays from 9-10:30am via Zoom.
We understand that decisions regarding your health and heath care choices are important ones. We have included a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) list below in an effort to provide more information about group CBTI to help inform your decision.
Questions about insurance coverage and out of pocket costs can be addressed by our New Patient Coordinators (650-498-9111 x2). Additional questions can be addressed by Dr. Kate Kaplan at (650) 723-2229.
CBTI Groups - Frequently Asked Questions
How are groups currently held?
All group meetings are held over Zoom.
How many people participate in groups?
8-12 members
Who else will be in the group with me?
All group members are adults with insomnia. Also present in your group will be the group leader (a clinical psychologist) and a junior or trainee psychologist (psychology fellow)
What is the group format?
There are seven group meetings, each lasting 90 minutes. Meetings 1-5 are weekly, then there are two weeks before the 6th meeting and four weeks before the 7th meeting. This spacing is intentional so you have an opportunity to practice the skills you learned in treatment before the group ends. Group schedules may vary slightly based on holidays.
What happens in the group?
During each group meeting, the therapist introduces new treatment techniques, reviews each group member’s progress and develops treatment recommendations tailored to each member based on their specific symptoms of insomnia and progress towards goals.
Will my insurance cover group treatment?
Stanford Health Care is contracted with most major health insurance carriers. Coverage for your care at Stanford Health Care is determined by your insurance company and is based on the provisions of your specific plan.
To verify that Stanford Health Care has in-network status for your plan, please look for your plan in the appropriate insurance category below. You may also want to contact your insurance provider directly to confirm Stanford Health Care's status. You may be asked for our group NPI or Tax ID.
For more information, please visit Health Insurance Plans.
Please click here for more information and eligibility criteria for becoming a patient in our clinic.
What is CBTI?
CBTI is a short-term, skills based treatment for insomnia. It has been proven to be very effective. CBTI has been identified as the first-line treatment of chronic insomnia by multiple major medical associations nationally and internationally. In CBTI, you will learn how your body regulates sleep, what interferes with your ability to sleep well, and strategies to help you sleep better. We also spend time preparing you to maintain your improved sleep into the future.
Is group CBTI effective?
Yes. Our group and others have published studies showing the group format CBTI is an effective treatment for insomnia.
What about confidentiality?
We take confidentiality very seriously. In the first group meeting, we ask each group member to be respectful of others’ privacy and to commit to only share about their own experiences outside of the group meetings. We do not allow audio or video recordings of the group.
What happens if I have not met my treatment goals at the end of the group?
If this occurs, the group leader will meet with you to discuss the possibility of additional individual treatment sessions to help you meet your goals.
If I do not like the group, then what?
We want the treatment you are receiving to be a good fit for you. If you have any concerns about group participation, we encourage you to speak to your group leader to discuss alternative options.
What happens if I need to miss a group meeting?
If you need to miss a group meeting, we will arrange for you to meet briefly with the group leader or psychology fellow to cover the treatment content you missed and refine your treatment recommendations if needed.
The first and second group meetings are particularly important for setting you up for successful treatment. If you know in advance that you will have to miss either of these meetings, we recommend for you to select another treatment option. Similarly, we do not recommend enrolling in a group where you know in advance that you will need to miss more than one group meeting.